Baling machine with spiral feeding and compression means



Oct. 16, 1951 s, D. RUSSELL 2,571,489

BALING MACHINE WITH SPIRAL FEEDING AND COMPRESSION MEANS Filed June 16, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l S l\ Q ff O N Oct. 16, 1951 s, D, RUSSELL 2,571,489 BALING MACHINE WITH 4SFIRAL FEEDING AND COMPRESSION MEANS Filed June 16, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 OOOYO HIV Patented Oct. 116, .1951' BALmG MACHINE wrrn sPrRAL FEEDING AND coMPREssrcN MEANS Stanley D. Russell, Racine, Wis., assigner to J. I Case Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin ApplicationJune 16, 1944, Serial No. 540,560

This invention relates to baling machines,

a claims. (ci. o-25) particularly of the type constructed for baling cured gramineous products for subsequent-use with stock, as for eiiample hay for feed andstraw for bedding, or for balingl stalksvor other vegetation for commercial use. More particularly, the invention relates to the type of baling machine which is drawn along the field and picks up the cured material and delivers it toa feeding mechanism by which it is advanced into the baling chamber where, in turn, it is compressed and tied into bales.

In machines of this type, the formation of even and uniformly compressed bales is dependent very much upon a feeding mechanism capable Figure 2 lis an end elevational view of such baling machine taken from the left of Figure 1;

Figure h3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the feeding mechanism and baling chamber taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 shows a modified form of the spiral member for the feeding mechanism.

A'baling machine equipped with a spiral feeding mechanism embodying this invention comprises the usual baling means 4, a well-known type of pick-up mechanism 5, andthe improved feeding mechanism 6 all associated so that as the machine is drawn over the field, the maof conveying the material continuously and regularly to the baling chamber so that between each reciprocation of the compression plunger practically equal amounts of material are advanced into the baling chamber. Moreover, it is advantageous that the material, as it approaches the opening into the'baling chamber, receives a preliminary compression. Heretofore, one of the more generally used means for feeding the picked-up material to the baling chamber has been a conveyer belt extending out from and moving transversely to the 'balingA chamber. In order to accomplish the preliminary compression of the material approaching the opening into the baling chamber, it has been necessary to supplement the conveyer belt with a gravity-actuated positively-driven feed drum located adjacent to the opening into the baling chamber, such as shown in Russell Patent No. 2,362,861, of November 14, 1944. This arrangement has been found to have its limitations in accomplishing the desired uniform feeding of the material to the baling chamber and also'the proper preliminary compression of the material as it is prepared for delivery into the baling chamber. A Y

The main objects of this invention, therefore, are to provide an improved spiral feeding means for receiving the material to be baled and advancing it toward and effecting a compression thereof preliminary of its delivery into the baling chamber; and to provide an improved form and arrangement of a spiral feeding mechanism which is simple and economical in construction and highly emcient in operation.

y In the specific embodiment of the invention herein shown, Figure l is a front perspective view of a. baling machine equipped with a spiral feeding mechanism constructed in accordance with this invention;

dimension of said baling means.

terial to be baled is picked up by the mechanism 5, received by the feeding mechanism 6, 'and advanced to the baling mechanism 4 where it is compressed and tied into ba es and discharged a bale at a timeonto the field.

The baling means 4 comprises an elongated fabrication of angle bars 'I secured together at their ends by angle plates and intermediately by top, bottom,`and side plates 8, 9, and I0, respectively, so as to formA a baling chamber II of rectangular cross-section. One of the side plates I0 has an opening I2 formed therein providing communication between the Abaling chamber 4II and the feeding mechanism 6. An auxiliary framework secured to this fabrication and extending transversely out from one side thereof provides support for the pick-up mechanism 5 and feeding mechanism 6. Wheels I3 are suitably mountedon the fabrication and the auxill iary framework whereby the machine is made portable'in the direction of the longitudinal A plunger I4 is reciprocatingly mounted in the baling chamber II, being connected by means ofl a pitman I5 to a crank I6 attached to a shaft means (not herein shown) for permitting the insertion and tying of wires around the baled material as it moves toward thefar end of the baling means 4 preparatory to its discharge fromv .the end gate I9.

The pick-up mechanism herein shown comprises a drum 20 joumaled on arms 2| (one of which is shown in the gures) whichconstitute a part of the auxiliary framework vherein- `tothesforesaidpartsothatthematerialfrom the pick-up mechanism I is delivered to the receiving trough. y

Between the flare sheet 25 of the vpick-up mechanism l and the framework of the baling mechanism 4, there is arranged an auxiliary side made without departing from the spirit of the piecevll and top piece l2, the latter of which j curves outwardly and upwardly as clearly shown in the figures. These auxiliary pieces li and I! in conjunction with the adjacent parts of the bottom and back members 21 and 2l of the feeding trough forni a -constricted throat 33 between the feeding mechanism and the baling chamber wherein the material for baling receives a preliminary compression in advance of its entrance into the baling chamber. A stripper bar ll is arranged along the' rear top edge of the backv 2l and above this extends a wind guard Il.

The spiral member Il extends longitudinally of the trough into and through the constricted throat section-I3, terminating at a point closely adjacent the opening I! (Fig. 3). The end of the spiral memberv 3l which is disposed in the constrictcd throat section I3 is supported from thebalecaseinsuchamannerthatatleastthe lower half of the portion of the opening I2 corresponding to the ,space within the throat l! swept by the spiral member Il is substantially clear. In the illustrated structure this is accomplished by providing a vertically extending support bracket Il which is connected at its upper end to the angle bar 1 and whose lower end rotatably supports the end of the spiral member Il.

As herein shown, the spiral member It is journalled at its ends, however. it may be journalled on a long sleeve bearing mounted at the outer end of the trough such as is shown in the Lindgren and Raney Patent No. 2,142,587 which was issued on January 3, 1939. v

.In Figs. l and 3. the convolutions of the spirally formed member 3l lapproaching the throat are shown to be of reduced diameter. however. Fig. 4 presents a modified spiral member ll' wherein `the core and the flight ofthe spiral are both tapered throughout their length. The spiral member ll is driven by a sprocket andchainmechanismwhichisinturndriven by means of bevel gears 31 (Fig. 3). The bevel gearslaredrivenbyashaftll connectedtoa suitable source of power as indicated at the right hand end of Pig. 1.

invention,- the scope of which should be determined by reference to the following claims, the sramebeingconstruedasbroadlyaspossibleoonsistent with the state of the art.

I claim:

1., A baling machine comprising a horizontally disposed elongated baling chamber providing a feed opening in one side thereof for passage of' material 4for baling, a compressing plunger reciprocably mounted in said baling chamber and traversing said opening for compressing material into bales, a forwardly-open receiving trough I disposed transversely of said baling chamber.

leading to said opening and terminating at its end adjacent said baling chamber in a completely enclosed throat p'ortion substantially corrponding in size to said opening, and a spirally formed member rotatably supported at one end from said receiving trough and at the other end from said baling chamber and extending along said trough and into and substantially through said throat portion, the effective cross sectional area of said throat portion being substantially less than the eifective cross sectional area of said trough, and said spirally formed member being of a'size to occupy and sweep, when in operation. the major portion of the volume of said enclosed throat portion whereby material being moved by said spirally formed member is preliminar-ily compressed when it enters said throat portion. and is held compressed until it enters said baling chamber. l

2. A baling machine comprising a horizontally disposed elongated baling chamber providing a -feed opening in one side thereof for passage of material for baling, a compressing plunger reciprocably mounted in said baling chamber and traversing said opening for compressing material into bales, a forwardly-open receiving trough disposed transversely of said baling chamber. leading to said opening and terminating at its end adjacent said baling chamber in a completely enclosed throat portion substantially correspondinginsizetosaidopening,andaspiral1y formed member rotatably supported at one end 'me operation of the machine nei-em described will be more or less apparent. As the machine movesalcngovertheneldthematerialforbalfrom said trough, said baling chamber having a support, substantially atsaid opening, rotatably carrying the other end of said spirally formed member, said member extending along said rcceiving trough and into and substantially through said throat portion to a point adjacent said support, the eective cross sectional arca of said 1g throatportionbcingsubstantiallylessthantl eiIectlve cross sectional area of said trough, whereby material being moved vby said spirally formed member is preliminarily compressed when it enters said throat portion, and is held-compressed until it enters said baling chamber, and said support being located so as to clear at least the lower half of the space between said spirally formed member and said throat.

3. A baling machine comprising a horizontally disposed elongated baling chamber providing a 4feed opening in one side thereof for passage of y material for baling, a compressing plunger resaid receiving trough, said baling chamber hav- Y ing a support substantially at said opening, rotatably carrying the other end of said member,

and said member extending along said receiving trough and into and substantially through said throat portion, said member including an elongated core portion and a spirally formed flight 6 portion, the effective cross sectional area of said throat portion being substantially less than the etective cross sectional area of said trough, whereby material being moved by said spirally formed night portion is preliminarily compressed when it enters said throat portion, and is held compressed until it enters said baling chamber, and said support being so located as to substantially clear at least the lower half of the portion of said opening corresponding to the space within said throat swept by said spirally formed flight portion.

STANLEY D. RUSSELL.

REFERENCES CITED The followingv references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Date 

